Rural taskforce update

I served as a rural Family Physician for 13 years. I was an on-call assessment physician for the Physician & Family Support Program of the Alberta Medical Association for about 10 years. My perspective for this letter is as a RCPSC Specialist in Occupational Medicine.

I think that one missing piece is the career planning for physicians entering rural practice. We cannot assume that physicians will remain in the same location for their whole career. Life circumstances and health problems cause rural physicians to move to urban centers, often to limit their practice or their hours. Family circumstances are important in changing practice locations.

I think career planning would be useful, so that rural physicians do not feel trapped in a rural setting. When problems arise, vocational rehabilitation may be required to facilitate career changes.

These comments are for the author of the article, not for publication.

Harold E. Hoffman, MD, CCFP, FCFP, FRCPC Occupational & Environmental Medicine Meadowlark Place Professional Centre #410, 8708 - 155 St. Edmonton, Alberta T5R 1W2 Telephone: (780) 439 - 9491 Fax: (780) 439 - 9091 Email: Harold{at}DrHoffman.ca

Conflict of Interest:

None declared